VAST PROJECT

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 8

VAST PROJECT

SOUNDS ROAD TUATAPERE-JACKSON’S BAY MR R. A. ANDERSON’S PLAN MAY COST A MILLION The construction of a road from Tuatapere round the coast to Puysegur and from there through the Sounds to Milford, eventually joining up with the West Coast at Jackson’s Bay was a suggestion placed before the Southland League executive last evening in a letter from Mr R. A. Anderson, C.M.G. While the remark of one member of the league, “It’s taken our breath away,” not inaptly describes the effect produced by the letter, there was general agreement on the far-reaching possibilities of the vast project which the president of the league (Mr William Hinchey) roughly estimated would cost £1,000,000. A resolution thanking Mr Anderson for his suggestion and expressing the hope that it would be possible to give it favourable consideration in the near future was carried; and a committee was set up to study the scheme from the point of view of practicability and cost and to discuss it with Mr Anderson and, if possible, the Minister of Public Works. In addition to the executive of the league Messrs J. D. Gilmore, W. A. Stout and Gus Tapper, representing the Southland Motor Association, were present when the matter was discussed. Mr Anderson’s Letter. Mr Anderson’s letter was as follows:— “I think it will be generally agreed that we are not going to absorb all the unemployed into useful occupations for some years, and it is increasingly, difficult to find remunerative work for this class of labour which will remain an asset to the Dominion. I know there are many people who consider money spent to provide roads for tourist traffic as a waste; but I am sure this is a wrong view to take as every tourist coming to New Zealand must spend a certain amount of money which percolates through many avenues, and it is in the interest of all that they should be encouraged to come here. “Fast steamers are reducing the length of ocean voyages, thus bringing New Zealand nearer to Australia and the Old World. We have a good example in the new road made with unemployment labour up the Eglinton Valley. People from the North Island have told me they consider it is one of the finest scenic roads in New Zealand. When it is carried on to its destination at Milford it certainly will be one of the best attractions for this end of the Dominion. “For a long time I have thought of what may be considered an ambitious scheme of roading, that from Tuatapere round the coast to Puysegur and from there on through the Sounds to Milford, eventually joining up on the West Coast at Jackson’s Bay. Abranch road could be made from Martin’s Bay to the head of Lake Wakatipu. If you can visualize a road running through the Sounds, carried up some 500 to 700 feet above sea level so as to give a good view of each sound, I think you will agree with me that such a road would not only be a great asset to New Zealand but would provide one of the finest roadways in the world and would be something quite unique and a tremendous draw to New Zealand. The Sounds are at present closed to the people of New Zealand except by sea and only at odd times does a steamer make a very, hurried trip to Milford, so that our own people know nothing of the beauties of the Sounds and particularly of the historic spot in Dusky Sound where Captain Cook wintered. Timber on the Spot. “With a portable mill, such as is being used on the Eglinton road, timber for bridges could be cut on the spot, so that practically the whole of the work is labour. The only expense would be for tools and explosives where necessary. It would provide a large number of men with work for a good many years; and if the Unemployment Board would subscribe so much and the Government and the Main Highways Board each make a subsidy, then the men could be employed full time. “The road, as suggested, would give a complete circle of the South Island and would be advertised as one of the greatest tours to be enjoyed in the South Island. It is very well known that many overseas people visit the North Island and are not given the encouragement they ought to get in coming to view the wonders of the south; but a road such as this would open up such wonderful prospects for tourists that it would almost advertise itself. It seems a great pity that these Sounds should be so inaccessible, not only to tourists, but to our own people, who surely should have facilities provided for them to view the wonders and the beauty of their own land. “I hope, therefore, the league will give this matter some consideration, and if they view it as I do I trust they will make a move to try to get the road started.” A Big Subject. “This is a big subject,” said the chairman (Mr Hinchey) when the secretary had read the letter. “A proposal of this kind coming as it does from Mr Anderson puts us in the position that we must take notice of it. Mr Anderson is a man of considerable standing and is not likely to make a suggestion that he did not think was practicable. Perhaps it may not be immediately possible. It is a big idea and a costly one. Mr Anderson looks at things in a big way. So large is his proposal that it is almost staggering. If one looks at the map one sees what it means to put a road round the Sounds to Jackson’s Bay, eventually to encircle the South Island. It is one of the greatest possibilities in the Dominion. The cost would, of course, be pretty considerable. Mr Anderson, with his experience on financial matters, may see how it can be accomplished. He refers in his letter to the large number of unemployed and to their absorption by means of the scheme. As to actual costs he has left that to engineers. The secretary and I put a rule over the map and we estimate that the road .would be at least 250 miles long when the necessary deviations were taken into consideration. Though staggering in its proportion it is certainly a scheme worthy of serious consideration. It is not merely a scheme for Southland and Otago, but a national scheme. Estimated Cost ’ “I have made a rough estimate of the cost of making such a road and I think it would work out at about £4OOO a mile, or a total of £1,000,000. This would, after all, be spread over a num-

bei’ of years and would not therefore mean such a great amount annually. It would open up one of the greatest scenic attractions in the world. No other place save Norway has such fiords. The road would be an asset to the whole of New Zealand. There is a great deal of money in the tourist traffic. Fast steamships from Australia are beginning to come to New Zealand and cruise round both islands. The fares are as cheap as possible and increased patronage may be expected. The proposed road would, I feel sure, bring many more tourists from Australia. In the North Island Rotorua and Waitomo are the two great attractions. They mean a great deal of money to the Auckland province. I venture to say that many millions have been received . through these resorts in the past twenty-five years. We have in the Sounds a different kind of attraction and one just as good if developed. A Great Asset. “At present the country is more or less a desert. It is purely a tourist resort, valueless at present; but if opened up it will be a greater asset than even the fertile fields of Otago and Southland. If a road were put through I think the fiord country would be numbered amongst the greatest assets in the Dominion. The scheme, I venture to say, is not too big for New Zealand, but is well worthy of earnest consideration.” Mi- A. E. Wish commended the scheme and remarked that it would entail an expenditure of only £200,000 or £300,000 a year from the unemployment funds. It would be an admirable scheme for keeping a large number of men on reproductive relief work. “It’s taken our breath away,” remarked Mr J. Stevenson, when the chairman asked for further comment. Mr J. D. Gilmore said that one certainly hesitated to make remarks about such a scheme as visualized by Mr Anderson —a scheme that undoubtedly had a great deal to commend it. At the same time he said he considered, a great many unemployed could be absorbed in completing the scenic roads that had already been' commenced. These, if completed, would give an admirable round trip. “I should say the scheme is quite impossible,” said Mr M. H. Mitchel. “I don’t know how far it has been surveyed. Who wants to motor 250 miles to see scenery? I don’t. The Sounds District is one of the wettest in New Zealand. I think it would be better that landing places should be made at certain points and aeroplanes used for sightseeing. What are you going to do about the mosquitoes? The place is alive with them.” “Too Ambitious.” “I hardly think the time is yet ripe for such an ambitious scheme. I think the roads that have been started should first be completed,” said Mr J. H. Tattersfield. “Some people think of £1,000,000 as a bagatelle. But it has to be remembered that the interest on expenditure before the road was ready for use would amount to a great deal in addition to the capital cost of the scheme.”

Mr J. H. Malcolm said that if there were such a road a great many passengers on tourist ships would be induced to land and thereby spend their money in the country and not solely with shipping companies as at present. Mr S. McC. McDonald said that from the existing roads branch roads to some of the Sounds might be made in preference to the complete scheme. Mr C. Campbell said that right from Invercargill the road would be a magnificent scenic road. The difficulties of the road round the Sounds, however, were not known. He, therefore, suggested that a committee should be set up to go into the matter and that at the annual conference of the league with Ministers and members of Parliament a round-table discussion could be held. Mr Campbell spoke of improving world economic conditions and the increased tourist traffic that could be expected. A road round the Sounds would be a powerful magnet. Mr C. S. Longuet supported the view that roads under construction should be completed first. A National Scheme. “Well, gentlemen, I know that Mr Anderson is not the sort of man who expected the league to approve of such a vast project at a single leap,” said the chairman. “Nor do I think he intended such a scheme to prejudice the completion of roads already in course of construction. It is a national scheme requiring a great deal of consideration. I don’t think it is necessary to prolong the discussion this evening. We have done all that we could do at this meeting. I think it is most gratifying to know that we have in our midst a man who could conceive such a scheme. I am sure we shall all give it our full consideration between now and next meeting. I think we should send a motion such as the following to Mr Anderson: ‘That Mr Anderson be thanked for his suggestion; that the league appreciates the magnificence of the scheme; and that it hopes that it will be possible in the near future to have it given favourable sideration.’ ” The motion was carried.

Mr Campbell’s suggestion that a committee be appointed to study the question and discuss it with Mr Anderson and the Minister of Public Works or other Parliamentary representatives was adopted, the committee to consist of the president (Mr Hinchey) and Messrs C. S. Longuet, A. S. Russell, C. Campbell and the president of the Southland Motor Association (Mr D. J. Wesney).